Cuba is much more than a time capsule for visitors to gawk at: during my time there, I learned that it is a country still deeply entrenched in a complex political situation, a struggle for financial stability, and teetering on the brink of a collective craving for a better life.

It’s strange to think how much the trajectory of our lives can be dictated by society’s definition of success. Why do we waste time and energy fighting for what we don't want, rather than unapologetically pursue our own passions?

I visited Boulder, Colorado during a period of high-strung, self-absorbed, drinking-the-New-York-Kool-Aid stress, desperate to find clarity by walking away from the asphyxiating confines of my concrete jungle.

I found Chicago on an impossibly sunny winter weekend, right on the cusp of spring. Since I’d first heard of the city years ago, I’d felt inexplicably drawn to it; something about its reputation ensnared me, carrying with it a delicious allure of prohibition and bright city lights.